Talk

BRO. AUDEE VILLARAZA:

TODAY we continue our Feast Talk series, The Good Life.

May I share with you something that I have learned over the course of many years of preparing, studying, and preaching the Word of God, not just at The Feast, but in different organizations. I’ve learned that there are three elements of a great sermon.

It should inspire people. Something is stirred within you to say: “I want to follow God more. I want to love God more.”

It shouldn’t just stop in motivating you, but it should move you into action. Otherwise, nothing changes. It should move you to go to Confession. It should move you to join a Light Group. It should move you to forgive somebody. It should move you to love someone who is hard to love.

This is the most important. It should transform you from brokenness into wholeness.

When we put all these three elements together, the question is:

What is the greatest sermon of all time? It’s the Sermon on the Mount given by none other than the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) Himself, Jesus Christ.

The Message of the Sermon

Why is the Sermon on the Mount the Greatest Sermon of All Time?

Let me answer that in the context of the three great elements.

First, this Sermon alone motivated people.

It disrupted the very fabric of their culture at that time. People back then were living at a time when they were praying for a Messiah that would come as a general to conquer the world. They were praying that they would be able to defeat Rome. But Jesus came and he changed things. He didn’t just defeat Rome, He changed hearts. Jesus likes to disrupt. He motivated people. But that’s not just it.

Second, Jesus, through that Sermon, moved people. The Sermon moved people to follow Jesus. To want to hear more of that Sermon, people left their livelihood. People left their families to follow Jesus.

But the greatest that this Sermon did was it changed people, transformed them from strangers into friends, friends becoming followers, followers becoming disciples. Ultimately, disciples becoming disciple makers.

You see, that’s what the Word of God should do for all of us through the work of the Holy Spirit: That the Lord would change you forever. That you’re no longer the same person who walked in here. Ten years later, you’re completely a different person. That’s the Word of God affecting you.

Now, what is the core message of the Sermon of the Mount? Ancient authors use this style: They would put the most important part of their message right in the middle of the sermon.

The Sermon on the Mount can be divided into three sections.

What is in the middle of these three sections? It’s a prayer that you say every day. It’s a prayer that we pray here every Mass. What is that prayer?

It’s the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-10:

Jesus Brings Heaven Down on Earth

Notice that in that prayer, Jesus says:

“Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Jesus is focusing not just on bringing people to Heaven but on bringing Heaven down to the people. He’s not just going to wait for you to get to Heaven. He’s going to bring down Heaven here– where we live, where we breathe, and where we work.

How is He going to do that? He’s going to do it through you and me.

Jesus is going to use you. God is going to use every brokenness, every mess, and every mistake that you’ve made. He’s going to use them for His greater glory.

How do I know that? Matthew quotes Jesus in this context:

And Jesus also says

Tell somebody beside you: “Friend, you are the Salt of the Earth.”

Tell the other one you didn’t talk to: “Friend, you are the Light of the World.” Let’s give the Lord a big hand. Let’s pray:

Father, Thank You for Your message today. May these words leap from out of the page and touch us within where it really matters the most. I pray that there would be no distractions here today. For those here who are coming for this message, that whatever noise, concern, issue, and situation that they’re in, there would be complete silence and they would hear Your message loud and clear.

This is our prayer. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

One more time, Everybody:

Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet And a Light unto my path.

The Light Has Come

One more time, tell the person beside you: “You are the Light of the World.”

Light is very easy to understand because light is a concept that all of us are familiar with. It’s something that’s visible to the eye. You see its brightness. You also feel its warmth.

Light is a word that’s used in books, in movies, in Scripture and even in songs. Some popular songs that we sing are about the light:

You Light Up My Life by Debbie Boone

Light My Fire by The Doors:

For the younger people:  Fix You by Coldplay

What I like most:  This Little Light of Mine by Harry Dixon Loes

Light is something that is easy to understand. But when Jesus said that You Are the Light of the World, He wasn’t referencing The Doors, Coldplay, or Debbie Boon. Those songs weren’t invented yet. Jesus was actually referencing the OG (Original) himself, the prophet Isaiah:

Isaiah was prophesying of a time when people would no longer live in darkness. People would no longer be at the dark side but people would shine the light. The sad part was that it did not happen during his lifetime. People continued to live in darkness. And even until today, right? But I still believe that because Jesus has come, the Light has come. That’s the prophecy.

Salty Spice

Salt is a little harder to understand. A lot of people don’t get the idea of salt because it’s a concept that’s not always visible. When was the last time you were gifted salt on your birthday and you jumped for joy?

Salt is so common. Everybody can afford salt.

How many of you like adobo?

If you’re Filipino, you’re going to love adobo, right?

Some people believe that adobo was something that originated from the Spaniards when they came and colonized our country because it comes from the word adobar. It means to marinate. That’s what adobo is.

But food historians believe that before the Spaniards came, Filipinos — the locals or natives– were already eating adobo. How were they preparing adobo? They were using a lot of vinegar and a lot of salt. Back then, there were no refrigerators, freezers, and coolers yet. The only way that people can preserve food was by covering the food with salt.

During the time of Jesus, salt was so valuable. It was so precious. People would pay one another using salt. It would be their currency because it was a way to preserve life.

Jesus was saying that salt is precious. When He says, “You are the Salt of the Earth,” it’s symbolizing that you are the person that He will use to preserve humanity from the decay of corruption, of greed, and of evil. That’s how important salt is.

The problem is that lately, people are saltier. People are more sinful. There’s so much evil in the world.

I had to wrestle with this question this week. I had to log on to Google for the answer.

I googled: “What is the era that had the greatest evil in history?”

How many of you would agree with me if I say that today is the darkest time of life?

Actually, it’s not true. Why? We don’t have a Holocaust during our time. Holocaust was when 6 million Jews were exterminated by the Nazis. We don’t have the African slave trade where 12 million Africans were shipped over to different parts of the world to be slaves. We don’t have the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima where 210, 000 persons died. We don’t have these dark moments.

Darkest Moment

You know what the darkest moment of history is according to Google?

It was the time when people murdered the Savior of the world.

I do agree.

But do you know what our greatest evil is today? You will be shocked by this. Yes, we don’t have the Holocaust. Yes, we don’t have bombings. Yes, we don’t have all of these great evils that happened.

But there is a great evil among us. The greatest evil that we have today– this is the darkest moment of our time: We have what we call the worship of self.

In this day and age where there is social media, society and culture are teaching us to love ourselves so much that we lose the very identity of God within us.

It’s like make it all about you. You are the light of the world. Let the world shine on you so that you may glorify yourself. That’s the message of the world today.

That’s why you see, a lot of people, we still sin. Even during the time of Jesus there was still sin.

Sin actually makes us like animals. It’s no wonder there is this term: beast mode– when you turn into a beast. We use it as a compliment– but it’s not. We turn into animals.

Actually, we reference animals whenever we sin. For instance, we liken a greedy person to a buwaya or crocodile. We call a person who betrays us as ahas— a snake. We call married persons flirting with other women and other men as mga aso—dogs, since they cannot control their urges. We call gossipmongers as langaw–flies because they’re noisy. We call a person boasting with plans that don’t come true as palaka– frog, just mouthing kokak-kokak.

What do you call a person who likes to jump around to different areas looking for fun, looking for excitement, and looking for entertainment all the time?

We liken the person to a tipaklong or grasshopper.

When we lose sight of who we are in God, sin makes us less human. The very definition of sin is to literally miss the mark.

What mark are you missing? To be what it feels to be human. You’re no longer being human. You’re becoming more of an animal.

You’re sinning against the Lord.

How do we become the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World?

Jesus said: “I am the Light of the World.”

Yes, He is the Light and He has come to the world. If He has, how come a lot of people still live in the darkness?

It’s a hard-hitting question. But thank God that He is true to His Word.

This is the answer– in John 3:19:

God’s Light has already come. The problem is that people choose not to receive the Light. Sometimes, because of fear. Sometimes, because of ignorance.

Sometimes, because we love the darkness too much that we’re afraid what the Light will expose in our life.

Maybe the Lord is telling you today that He’s sending you to be His light in the world. How do you do that? You witness the Gospel to people. You testify about the goodness of God to the people in your life.

Jesus gave three messages in the Sermon on the Mount that completely turns everything around:

So, the answer to the question: How do you become the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World? You love your neighbor.

Three Practical Ways to Love People

Where do we start loving people? I’ll give you three practical ways:

Christian and I and took random videos of people. We handed them a note that says:

“If you smile, you will be the one to preach today.”

I noted two ways Feasters responded.

First: Nervous laughter.

Second: They tend to be shy.

Here are other reactions…

I want to challenge you. If you want to really love people and be present for them in small ways, get to know people around you here. Don’t just ask their name. Ask their stories, ask what you may pray for them. Those are just little ways of being present with one another because they unlock real joy in you.

When you’re present in even the smallest little ways, it unleashes a lot of God’s calling in you.

A few weeks ago, you probably heard this horrific news that exploded on the Internet. Two persons having an illicit affair watched a Coldplay concert. To their shock, they were featured on the big screen.

This happens in social media a lot of times. This is real.

When somebody makes a mistake, there’s a cameraman recording the whole thing. Everybody starts bashing, mocking, teasing, and tearing those people.

I myself am guilty. I judged these partners. They had the nerve of showing up in a public event and then, complaining afterwards why they were on the main screen.

But the Lord spoke to me in this issue. I’m going to share it with you. While people were so busy mocking, tearing, and shunning away these two, we’re missing the more important message that the Lord wants us to learn. What if during these moments, we actually prayed for them so that they can go back to the Light?

What if in that moment, we prayed for the children of those people whose hearts are breaking behind the headlines? What if we actually took time to pray to the Holy Spirit to use that situation to change our lives and to look within? Choose to be kind not because the other person is kind but because you are kind and because you are Jesus to them.

I found out that one of the greatest ways to heal yourself from hurt is if you pray for that person who hurt you. It’s hard to stay angry when you’re lifting the person in prayer.

The next time somebody insults you, frustrates you, and cuts you off in line, pray for that person. Watch what the Lord will do in your heart.

Adam Grant, best-selling author, wrote this amazing book titled Give and Take.

In his book, he said that there are three kinds of people: Takers, Matchers, and Givers. These are self-explanatory. But Takers and Matchers are the same.

They will give only because they’re getting something in return. On the other hand, Givers will give without expecting anything in return. Which of them should be the Light of the World and the Salt of the Earth? Absolutely, it’s the Givers.

What Are You?

Ask yourself what are you in your own home.

Are you a taker? Are you a matcher? Are you a giver?

Picture this. If in your family, both parents are takers. It’s all about taking. Imagine the frustration of that family. Is that a tough family? Yes, absolutely.

Imagine if both parents are both matchers. Matchers can mean that you give to the other person what that other person gave you but it doesn’t always necessarily mean that. Matching can also mean: “I cooked today. Tomorrow, it’s your turn to cook.”

Imagine if one of the parents is a taker and the other parent is a matcher.

Will that work? No. Because one is going to continue to take. One is just going to match. Eventually, the one who is trying to match will be frustrated and will get burned out.

Imagine if one is a taker and the other one is a giver. Does that work? No. The other one will keep on taking and the other one will keep on giving until the person runs out of something to give.

The best for every family is for both parents to be givers. Imagine if our family members give to each other 100% without asking anything in return.

There needs, however, to be a limit.

Jesus calls you to give and not self-destruct. There’s a limit to what you can do.

If it’s already affecting your health, your peace, and your heart –that’s a danger zone. Even Jesus did not give in to every demand that He was asked for.

Sometimes, Jesus had to say no.

Give. But know when to give properly.

It’s important that we come before the Lord every day because we receive from Him. We cannot give what we do not receive. People should not expect you to be a human ATM to keep on shelling out stuff while you yourself have not received.

We Are Givers

This is young Bo Sanchez leading the first Feast.

Today is a special day. On this exact day, August 3, 1997, yes, 28 years ago, we had our very first Feast ever at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

Life back then was simple. We didn’t have a really great worship team.

We didn’t have LEDs. We didn’t even have a production team. We were using acetate to project our illustrations. We didn’t have two-way radios.

Eventually, that Feast that was attended by 800 to 1,000 people, it moved to another venue in San Juan Arena>

The Feast got bigger.

We moved again– to Valle Verde Country Club but eventually we could not fit there anymore.

We moved to PICC Plenary Hall where we had a maximum of 12,000, 15,000 people coming.

Suddenly, the Coronavirus Disease pandemic happened.

There was a shift and the Lord recalibrated everything.

PICC is under repair, so we hold the Feast either at Aliw Theater or Rizal Park Hotel.

We’re claiming that we’re going to go back to PICC when it’s already repaired.

There are now around 500 different Feast locations around the world. Why do you think The Feast keeps on growing?

Because there are more givers than takers and matchers in our Community.

We Need You, Lord Jesus

The world likes to define and tell you to take and get all that you can.

But Jesus says: “Give all that you can.”

The world likes to say: “Shine yourself to the light. Shine for your success.

But Jesus says: “Shine your light before others so that others may glorify God.”

The world likes to say: “Look out for yourself.”

But Jesus says: “No. Lose yourself so that you may gain life.”

Jesus wants us to be the Salt of the Earth, the very preservative that would preserve humanity from the decay of corruption, evil, violence, greed, and lust.

Jesus says: “You are that salt,”

But He also wants us to be the light– a Light to the World– to shine in the brightest moment so that when other people see you, they will glorify God Himself.

Is it easy to do that? Is it easy to be the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World? Yes, or no?

Absolutely no. It’s not easy.

You can be the Salt of the Earth today and suddenly become salty the next day.

You can be the Light this morning and then when you’re in the parking area complaining, you can be the darkness in your family. It’s so easy to shift.

But thank God that we don’t have to do what’s right alone. Because Jesus says: “I am the Light of the World.”

Whoever is in Jesus can show that Light. You can’t be the Light on your own. You need the Savior of the world helping you overcome the darkness in your life.

Surrender

Jesus invites us today to simply partner with Him, acknowledge Him in His Presence:

Lord, unless you transform us, we cannot become the Light of the World and the Salt of the Earth. We want to do this with You.

Thank You, Jesus. Thank You for Your invitation. It’s a hard thing to do.

It’s difficult, but we don’t have to do it alone. We do it with You.

Everybody, lift your hands in the Presence of God right now:

Father, I pray for every person here today– father, mother, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, a friend to one another, an employee, a boss, an employer, or a business owner. I pray for each person here today. Lord, You know their struggles. You know their difficulties. You know the mess that they are in.

While we know that it’s an impossible task to simply love people, especially with our limited capacities, Father, we also acknowledge that with You, nothing is impossible.

Lord, I prophesy that from this day on, this person will shine Your light and will preserve humanity from all the evilness and darkness in this world. You’re going to use them for Your greater glory. They are Your Light. They are Your Salt.

Through us, we just proclaim, Lord, in faith, that Your glory will shine to the world. In Jesus’ Name. Amen

Commitment

Let’s all respond to the goodness of God by giving today our life. I’d like to invite everybody here, whether it’s your first time, second time, or you’ve been attending here since Camp Aguinaldo, this the prayer that you need to pray for yourself, that you continue to commit your life to Jesus Christ.

Put your hand over your chest and say this with me:

Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of God. Right now, I am a sinner and I need a Savior. I believe that You came into this world to save me

from my sins and You were reborn to recue me so that I may have the same life.

So, today, I come to You and I receive You as my Lord and my Savior.

I give You all my sins, my hurts, my shame, and my traumas. And I ask You to make me new. Cleanse my heart and help me live a life that’s according to Your ways. I give my life to You — my past, my present, and my future.

I am Your Light and I am Your Salt. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

This story was first published in the Feast Family Online News Magazine
Published by THE FEAST (August 10, 2025)